Multiple GPS apps running in the background on iPhone?

Question

Is it possible to have several applications on iphone for access to GPS (at the same time)?

Answer 1

Yes. For example, I use RunKeeper and the Maps application at the same time. Your app will need background permissions to maintain GPS. Here are the docs:

If your application needs to use the standard location service, you can declare your application as requiring a location service.

An application should only request background location services if the lack of these services impairs its ability to work. In addition, any application that requests background location services should use these services to provide tangible benefits to the user. For example, a turn-by-turn navigation application will be a likely candidate for background location services due to the need to track a user's position and notify when it is time to make the next turn.

https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/iPhone/Conceptual/iPhoneOSProgrammingGuide/ManagingYourApplicationsFlow/ManagingYourApplicationsFlow.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40007072-CH4-SW24

Answer 2

Yes, but in practice this does not work very well. For example, I tried many times to use Strava and Pokemon Go at the same time. Usually one or the other will not work. Sometimes Strava reports a full run (this is my move), but then Pokemon Go will give me only 4k (when I ran 8 miles). Similarly, when Pokemon Go is running, Strava will lose GPS and will lose data for kilometers at a time. In this case, Strava reports that I ran about 4-5 miles out of 8.

This is on the iPhone 6 Plus.